Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has ruled out
any chance of Karim Benzema leaving the French champions this
summer and tipped him to stay at the club for a further two
years.
Barcelona had high hopes of prising the 20-year-old away from
the Stade Gerland and were hoping to smooth the way for another bid
at the European Club Association (ECA) conference at Camp Nou.
With the continent's most powerful clubs gathering in the
Catalan capital, reports suggested that there would be some
wheeling and dealing being done, but Benzema will not be part of
it.
"With €40m (£31.7m) or €50m (£39.7m) we would
sell Benzema's ear," Aulas joked to reporters. "It is not a
question of money. The player wants to achieve something big in the
Champions League with Lyon.
"He is happy at the club and this can be seen with his latest
contract renewal. I am sure that he will stay with Lyon until the
2010 World Cup finals."
Aulas admitted that he knew Benzema is attracted by Barcelona
and would rather join them than go to Real Madrid, but the French
international wants to succeed at his hometown club first.
"I believe that he likes Barca a lot," he added.